Tamil Nadu CM, MK Stalin
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted raids against state Electricity Minister V Senthil Balaji, drew criticism from Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Tuesday against the BJP ruled Central Government. According to him, the BJP’s strategy of using investigating organisations for threatening its opponents rather than direct political confrontation won’t last for very long.
What did Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Say?
“The BJP has been controlling its political opponents through the investigative agencies at its disposal. There have been several examples of this from across the country,” MK Stalin said.
“Senthil Balaji stated that he will extend full cooperation to any kind of investigation. Then what was the need to carry out raids at the official chambers of the minister at the secretariat premises? Was it to show that they are capable of carrying out raids at the secretariat or to threaten?” he questioned.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin alleged that the raids were “politically motivated”. “What does it mean when such action is carried out just days after the visit of the Union Home Minister to Chennai? We had given our clarification too,” MK Stalin said. He further mentioned that the raids at the secretariat were “against the values of cooperative federalism”.
“Even when the income tax raided the then chief secretary Ram Mohan Rao in 2016 inside the secretariat, I had issued a statement condemning the same, even when the ruling AIADMK did not do so,” MK Stalin said. “It doesn’t matter who is getting raided, but it matters where it’s happening.”
ED raided a few other people with Senthil Balaji
As part of a money laundering probe, the Enforcement Directorate searched V Senthil Balaji, the minister of Tamil Nadu’s electricity, and a few other people.
What did Senthil Balaji Say?
The minister, a DMK strongman from Karur district, claimed he was unaware of the purpose of the officials’ visit to his premises and pledged complete cooperation in the investigation. Balaji’s properties are being raided in both his hometown of Karur and the state capital Chennai.
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